I WAKE BEFORE IM SUPPOSE TOO WHY DO I DO THIS?

[vickie44]

OK I JUST WONDER WHY I ALLWAYS WAKE LONG BEFORE TIME TO GET UP I AM SUPPOSE TO GET UP AT 6AM AND SOMETIMES I WASKE UP AROUND 4-6 SOMETIMES I JUST GET UP IF I CANT FALL BACK TO SLEEP AND SOMETIMES I CAN FALL BACK TO SLEEP THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR LIKE 2 MOS NOW AND I HAD MY LAST PERIOD IN SEPT IM GOING TO MY GYN THE 26TH OF JAN ALSO IM SWITCHING TO ZOLOFT WHICH IS BETTER TO TAKE IN AM OR PM THE EFFEXOR I WAS TAKING IN PM AND IT MADE ME WHERE I DIDNT WANT TO GO TO BED WHEN I SHOULD HAVE .DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ZOLOFT AND HOW GOOD IT IS AND ALSO IF I HAVE PANIC DISORDER WILL I HAVE TO TAKE MEDICATION ALL MY LIFE ?

[raclan]

I take both Paxil CR(50mgs) and Effexor(75mgs) for my Panic disorder and I have the Xanax just in case I need it.  I take Lunesta (3mg) at night to help me sleep and I feel wonderful in the morning when I wake up.  No grogginess from the meds at all.  I tried Zoloft, regular Paxil,Celexa....you name it the Drs. tried them all.  None of them worked for me and panic or depressiion until the doctor tried to wean me from the 50 mgs of Paxil CR to 75 mg of Effexor and I felt better while taking BOTH of them so he kept me on both.  I went through the whole weaning process and when I was taking just the Effexor without the Paxil, I started having panic attacks a lot....so I mentioned to the Dr. that I felt better then ever while I was on both during the weaning process so I am on both and have never felt better in my life.  The Xanax NEVER gets used but as long as I know it is there I am fine.  I did find that taking all of my meds before bed doesn help a great deal.  I sleep the whole night through thanks to the Lunesta and I wake up feeling great thanks to the Effexor and Paxil taken before bed.  Just my opinion here but after years of trying I finally feel myself again and happy.

[vickie44]

just wanted to post a update i called my gp dr he said im waking up in the middle of the night because of my high aniety and said for me to take a xanax if i wake up untill my meds start working i start my zoloft 25 mg tomorrow and hes calling in welburtin if thats how you spell it its to help me stop smoking im still on effexor along with these 2 and xanax then i stop effexor after 1 month i had no idea it was aniety that was waking me up so once the zoloft starts working i should get back to my old self again im hoping my brother in law takes zoloft 50 mg and hes been on them for years and also i have a cousin on them and she loves them and like my dr said everyone is different like i have 2 nieces on effexor and they are doing fine one niece is on 300mg and has took them for 5 yrs now the other niece is on 150 and shes doing ok but shes also on drugs where she snores xanax or adarall whatever she can steal she takes which is bad .so im hoping i get better real soon  god above will help i know but the effexor's just wasnt working for me thats why they have so many different drugs out there now zoloft i dont know much about but if they give me back my life i'll take them .god bless to all..

[vickie44]

why cant i ever sleep through the night? i woke this morning at 2:30 am and couldnt go back to sleep i take effexor xr 75 mg during the day i been only getting like 5 hrs askeep a night id wake up around 4-6 depened some nights i slept ok other nights i woke up this is the first time i ever woke at 2:30 before i heard aboud sleepmd on tv not sure if it will help i take xanax too i fall asleep fine i just cant stay asleep for 8 hrs i also use to take the dollar general brand of sleepaid could this be menopause or is something wrong here i had to take a sleepaid after my dad died 5 yrs ago but after my surgery in jan 2006 the xanax helped me sleep but not all night i cant stand this i dont fall asleep during the day much anymore my dr is switching me from effexor xr 75 mg to zoloft 50mg but im to take 25 mg for 7 days first im also on xanax 1 mg take as i need it .i do take it at night since it does help me fall asleep but i never sleep allnight it seems this has been happening more and more in the past 6 mos or so maybe less i cant remember.does anyone know what this is and if sleepmd might help or a sleepaid from dr the only prob with that is my insurane dont pay much for that last time i had to pay 66 dollars for 20 pills or 10 not sure which it was .but it was lunasta i think.

[vickie44]

i have been on xanax 1 mg 3 times a day since feb 2006 i dont think i need them i want off them and i want off all the meds cause all i do is sleep and that makes me depressed i want my life back i tried stopping the effexor cold turkey back in sept and all symtons came back like the crying the depression then the fainting spells i am at this point very depressed because i cant do much i cry alot i have no energy i go nowhere alls i do is sleep the dr didnt say anything about weening me just yet but he said hes going to get me off the xanax the effexor and then the zoloft im to take effexor for 1 month and 25 mg of zoloft for 7 days then 50mg of zoloft for 3 weeks then after 1 month on effexor im to stop then he will help me with the xanax hes a psychiatrist so he should be able to help me with this i believe i got all this from stress but im not sure .i fall asleep fine but thats because of the xanax but if i stopped them id have to learn to fall asleep on my own i did it before i can do it again and i only been waking for the last 2 mos do you have any idea why i do this?i go back to the psychiatrist feb 8th.vickie

[chcnme]

Vickie - I just wrote you on another thread.  By this time (if you've been on Xanax that long), you are dependent on it  (addicted.)  You have to be weaned off.  Tell the doctor you want your life back - that you want control back. You CAN have your life back again. If you can get seen before Feb 8, ask to be seen before then.  The reason you are waking up?  Probably the combination of meds, anxiety and depression.

[chcnme]

How long have you been taking the Xanax twice daily?  Xanax can be a bear to come off from what I know about it from others and from what I've been told by my psychiatrist.  So can Valium, but I have been told Xanax is even worse.  Just be sure and wean like the doc says to wean.  Once you get off the Xanax, don't ever get back on it is my advice.  If your anxiety is intense, maybe Ativan or Valium would be better.  I would not take any of them (the benzos)  for sleep, though, because they will all eventually stop working for sleeping aids  (and for anxiety aids for that matter).  And with all of these (the benzos) because they do lose their effectiveness quickly, are highly addicting .  One taking them can also get "rebound anxiety" on account of tolerance issures, which is like a case of super panic / super anxiety even while on the medication.  It can be a vicious cycle.  That is one reason I don't take my Valium but once every 3 or 4 days.  

I hate to even mention the word because I used to hate to hear it  (exercise :)   Have you tried to get more physical exercise in an to attempt to just wear yourself totally out?  I have done that before during periods of intense stress and inability to sleep, and eventually I would sleep.  Best of luck.  Don't stop that Xanax unless you are following the docs instructions on how to wean off of it.

[vickie44]

I HAVENT STARTED ON MY ZOLOFT YET I STILL TAKE EFFEXOR I WAS TAKING IT AT NIGHT BUT I SWITCHED TO DAYTIME AND YES WHEN I WAKE UP I NEED A XANAX CAUSE IM ALL SHAKY AND I NEED IT TO CALM ME DOWN IM HOPING TO GO OFF XANAX OR JUST TAKE IT AT NIGHT TO HELP ME SLEEP I FALL ASLEEP GOOD BUT SOMETIMES I WAKE BEFORE TIME TO GET UP I HATE THE EFFEXOR'S AND I CANT WAIT TO BE OFF THEM FOR GOOD I HAVE HEARD THAT IF YOU STOP THE ZOLOFT THAT YOU DONT GET ANY WITHDRAWLS I HOPE THATS TRUE CAUSE THE EFFEXOR MADE ME REALLY DIZZY AND I SLEPT ALLDAY LONG MY DR NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING ABOUT THEM BEFORE I STARTED THEM AND WILL I BE ABLE TO JUST TAKE ZOLOFT FOR AWHILE AND MY PANIC NOT COME BACK OR WILL I HAVE TO BE ON MEDS ALL MY LIFE I DONT MIND THIS IF I DONT GET TIRED AND IF I CAN DO ALL THE THINGS I USE TO DO MY BROTHER IN LAW IS ON ZOLOFT 50MG AND HE DOES PRETTY GOOD ON HIM HE WAS PUT ON HIS FOR STRESS HE DIDNT HAVE PANIC OR DEPRESSION .I GO BACK TO MY PSYCHIATRIST FEB 8TH HE SAYS HES GOING TO HELP ME GET OFF BOTH THE MEDS EFFEXOR XANAX AND THEN THE ZOLOFT IF POSSIBLE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE CAN DEAL WITH PANIC WITHOUT MEDS BUT IM NOT ONE OF THEM NOT RIGHT NOW ANYWAY.HOW DOES ONE WEEN OFF XANAX OR AT LEAST SLOW DOWN ON THEM YOU KNOW LIKE TAKE ONE IN AM AND ONE AT NIGHT BEFORE BED.

[stgals3]

I've taken Zoloft for 6+ years (on and off).  I find it to be the MOST effective for me with Panic.  It really just takes it away and I don't feel tired or any other side effects...EXCEPT the notoriious weight gain!!  Also, sexual side effects (low libido) is also a problem.  But, it certainly helps when I can't take the Panic anymore!! I usually stay on it for 3-6 months, gain weight, go off zoloft, lose weight, panic returns, go back on zoloft, gain weight.........etc. Get the picture? It's such a frustrating cycle.  I haven't found any other SSRI or benzo that works as well as Zoloft.  Ive tried Lexapro, Paxil, Celexa, Welbutrin and Buspar.  Zoloft is by far the best for me.  I also take Klonopin .25mg at night (I have for 3 years) and that helps me sleep almost perfectly every night.  Perhaps you could keep the Xanax just for bedtime and try the Zoloft during the day.  Take it in the morning.  Good luck to you!!! I know how much Panic/Anxiety can just ruin your day.  I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.  Best to you!